Practical how‑to guide
free website build
Build a working website without spending money — step-by-step, with essential SEO and marketing tips for small businesses.
This guide walks you through choosing a free platform, structuring content, doing the quick SEO checks that matter, and simple marketing moves that start generating customers.
$0
Start with free platforms
2 hours
Minimum time to launch a simple site
Essential SEO
Titles, meta, mobile & speed
1. Choose a free platform (pros & cons)
Free platforms let you launch quickly with no hosting cost. Pick one based on your needs (simple brochure, bookings, portfolio, or blogs).
WordPress.com (Free)
Good for blogs and content. Large ecosystem.
- Strong SEO tools on paid plans
- Free plan shows WordPress ads
- Easy to upgrade to paid plan
GitHub Pages + Static Site
Free hosting for static sites (good for tech-savvy users).
- No ads, full control
- Requires basic Git/build knowledge
- Fast & SEO friendly
Google Sites / Carrd / Wix Free
Fastest way to a simple site. Drag-and-drop builders.
- Super simple, no code
- Free plan often shows platform branding
- Good for one‑page sites
Quick decision guide: If you want total control and SEO, use WordPress.com (or GitHub Pages if comfortable with static builds). If you need speed and zero learning curve, use Carrd or Google Sites for a one‑page brochure.
2. Plan your content and pages
A clear content plan saves hours. Start with the pages that convert:
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Home: Short headline, core services, phone number, and a clear call to action (CTA).
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Services: One page per main service (or sections on one page). Use service names customers search for.
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About / Why choose us: Short bios, licenses, and trust signals (photos, testimonials).
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Contact: Phone, email, service area, and an easy contact option (CTA, click-to-call on mobile).
Write copy that converts
- Lead with the customer benefit in the headline (what you fix/do).
- Use short paragraphs and bullet lists — easy to scan on mobile.
- Include 1–2 CTAs above the fold (call and a contact link).
3. Step-by-step: Build a free site in under 2 hours
Follow these practical steps. Times are estimates if you have content ready.
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Choose your platform (10–15 minutes)
Sign up for a free account (WordPress.com / Carrd / Google Sites / GitHub Pages). Reserve a free subdomain (yourbusiness.platform.com).
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Pick a template and layout (10–20 minutes)
Choose a simple template that lists services clearly. Prefer templates with a visible phone number area and CTA buttons.
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Add your core pages & content (30–45 minutes)
Add Home, Services, About, Contact. Keep copy tight: headline, 3 service bullets, one CTA. Add 3 good photos — staff and work examples.
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Set contact options & click-to-call (5–10 minutes)
Put your phone number in the header, add tel: links on buttons, include an email and service area text.
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Quick SEO setup (15–25 minutes)
Add page titles and meta descriptions (see SEO section below). Ensure each page has one H1 and descriptive H2 headings.
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Publish and test (10–15 minutes)
Publish the site, open on a phone, click phone CTA, submit contact method yourself, and check images load fast.
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Claim your Google Business Profile (20–30 minutes)
This is free and crucial for local search. Verify your listing and add photos, hours, and service descriptions.
Pro tip: If you can accept enquiries, enable click-to-call and include a short lead form (many free platforms include a basic form). Test that enquiries reach your email or phone.
4. Essential SEO & marketing tips that drive traffic
SEO basics (do these first)
- Page titles: 50–60 characters. Include your main service + suburb (e.g., "Emergency Plumber Sydney — Fast Response").
- Meta descriptions: 120–155 characters — descriptive call-to-action (e.g., "Call for same-day bookings — free quote").
- Headings: Use H1 for page title, H2 for sections. Keep keywords natural.
- Alt text: Describe images simply for accessibility and image search (e.g., "kitchen tap repair by plumber in Sydney").
- Mobile-first: Check your site on a phone. Buttons should be large enough to tap.
- Page speed: Compress images (use webp if available), avoid heavy widgets, keep scripts minimal.
- Local signals: Add your business name, address, phone (NAP) consistently on site and directories.
Quick marketing tactics
- Google Business Profile: Add services, photos and encourage 5-star reviews from happy customers.
- Local directories: Add your listing to Yellow Pages, TrueLocal, Word of Mouth, and industry directories.
- Facebook Page: Create a simple business page and pin a post linking to your site.
- Simple ads: Try a small Google Ads or Meta ads test (even $5–10/day) targeting local keywords for 1–2 weeks to measure ROI.
- Offer a lead magnet: A small discount or quick checklist (PDF) in exchange for an email helps build a contact list.
- Follow up fast: Reply to enquiries within an hour — faster responses win most small business sales.
Keyword idea — Local intent
Focus on “service + location” keywords: e.g., "aircon cleaning Melbourne", "emergency locksmith Brisbane". These convert well for trades and services.
How to pick one keyword per page:
- Find 3 phrases customers use (talk to customers or search Google Autocomplete).
- Pick the one with local intent and include it in the title, H1, URL slug, and first paragraph.
5. Free tools checklist (use these to build & measure)
- Google Business Profile
- Google Search Console
- Google Analytics 4
- PageSpeed Insights
- Canva (free) for simple images
- TinyPNG or Squoosh for image compression
- Ubersuggest / AnswerThePublic (ideas)
- Bitly (short links for tracking)
Measurement starter: Connect your site to Google Analytics and Search Console within the first week so you can see what pages bring traffic and where to improve.
6. Conversion & testing — simple wins
Conversion checklist
- Phone number in header and footer.
- Strong CTA above the fold: "Call now for a free quote".
- Service pages with clear pricing or starting prices if possible.
- Customer testimonials and before/after photos.
A/B testing (quick)
Try two headlines or two CTAs for one week and measure which gets more clicks. Small changes often have big effects.
7. Keep it fresh — maintenance & growth
A website is a living asset. Small, consistent improvements deliver compounding returns.
- Update photos and testimonials every 3–6 months.
- Add one new blog or project per month (helps SEO and social posts).
- Monitor Search Console for keywords and pages that could be improved.
- Check your site for broken links and mobile issues quarterly.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build a website that ranks on Google for free?
Yes — ranking depends on useful content, local signals, speed, and links. A free site can rank for local, low-competition queries if you follow the SEO basics in this guide.
Should I use a free domain or buy my own?
Buy a simple domain (approx $10–20/yr) when you can — it's more professional and better for SEO. Use a free subdomain only as a temporary solution.
What’s the fastest way to get phone calls?
Make your phone number prominent, enable click-to-call on mobile, create a Google Business Profile and ask customers to call. Run a small local ad campaign if you need immediate volume.
When should I consider paying for a professional site?
If you need advanced features (online bookings, custom integrations), want a high-converting design, or don’t have the time to maintain the site, a paid professional service is a better investment.
Ready to launch faster (and focus on customers)?
A DIY free site is great to start. If you prefer a professional site built fast with SEO and unlimited updates, Congero can launch a mobile-optimised site in under 60 seconds and handle ongoing marketing.
Prefer to DIY? Use this guide as your checklist and revisit your site monthly to improve SEO and conversions.
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